Zeldin Blasts Questioning Of DA In Attack Case: 'Loaded Up With Lies'

LONG ISLAND, NY — Rep. Lee Zeldin, the GOP and Conservative nominee for governor of New York in the November election, is firing back at detractors who are questioning the motives of the district attorney who they said levied the initial charges against a man who attacked Zeldin at a campaign event.

Zeldin was attacked at a campaign event in Fairport Thursday. A man climbed on stage and attempted to stab him, Zeldin said and a video of the event indicated.

The video shows the man grabbing Zeldin's arm.

According to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Perinton, NY, on Thursday at 8 p.m., Zeldin was onstage giving a campaign speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8495 at 300 Macedon Center Road, in the town of Perinton. A man from the crowd climbed up on the stage and approached Zeldin, the sheriff's office said. The man had a weapon in his hand, swung it toward Zeldin’s neck, and told him, “You’re done," the sheriff's office said.

A report in the New York Post said the man was actually holding what appeared to be a plastic keychain fob.

Members of the audience and Zeldin’s campaign restrained the male until deputies arrived and took him into custody; there were no injuries, the sheriff's office said.

David G. Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, was arrested and charged with second-degree attempted assault, a felony, the sheriff's office said. He was arraigned in Perinton Town Court and released on his own recognizance, the sheriff's office said — Zeldin then issued statements condemning cashless bail and stating that it must be repealed.

Jakubonis was arrested again on Saturday and charged with a federal second-degree attempted assault, a felony, according to CBS News; that report also stated that he had been drinking at the time of the incident.

On the "Let's Visit Lee Zeldin" Facebook page, some questioned Republican DA Sandra Doorley, who they said decided on the "no-bail" charge. Doorley, detractors said, is co-chair of Zeldin's gubernatorial campaign.

"Now, the campaign is using his release to complain about bail reform. The whole thing is fishy," one woman wrote.

A media representative for Zeldin responded to Patch's request for comment: "At no point, has the Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley been involved with the charging decision in this case. In fact, it was the Sheriff's office that filed the charge. We have been informed that DA Sandra Doorley has not, is not, and will not be involved with the prosecution of this case due to her friendship with Congressman Zeldin," the statement read. "While Sandra Doorley was named as one of our campaign co-chairs on April 27, she notified Congressman Zeldin one day later on April 28 that she would not be able to serve in this unpaid, voluntary position after she discussed it with the DA’s Association."

Zeldin later released another statement on what he called "left-wing attacks": "Cashless bail supporters are fabricating details of last week's attack on me at my rally because the facts undercut their pro-criminal cause. They're now attacking the amazing Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley. The massive issue is that at no point has she been involved in the charging decision in this case at all!" he said.

Zeldin added: “Doorley was smart enough to stay totally out of that process from the get go due to her pre-existing relationship with me. . . The attacks on Sandra Doorley have been disgusting, loaded up with lies. She is an exceptional district attorney who would get slammed by the left for recusing herself from this case and slammed if she didn’t.”

After the attack, Zeldin also spoke out: "Thank you to everyone who reached out following tonight’s attack in Fairport. Someone tried to stab me on stage during this evening’s rally, but fortunately, I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments until others tackled him. I’m okay," Zeldin said.

Republican Party and Conservative Party Nominee for Lieutenant Governor Alison Esposito, and all other attendees were also safe, he said.

In a video posted on YouTube by NBC affiliate WHEC the man grabbed Zeldin by the arm, saying, "You're done. You're done."

Those who ran to Zeldin's aid pulled the man to the ground, with Zeldin also falling.
"What is he doing?" the crowd asked. "Whoa!"

The man began screaming as his hands and legs were zip-tied and he was put into a Monroe County Sheriff's Office police vehicle.

Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who Zeldin is hoping to unseat, issued a statement:

"My team has informed me about the incident at Lee Zeldin's campaign event tonight. Relieved to hear that Congressman Zeldin was not injured and that the suspect is in custody," she Tweeted. "I condemn this violent behavior in the strongest terms possible — it has no place in New York."
The event was a stop on Zeldin's "Unite to Fire Hochul" bus tour.

Zeldin was declared the winner of the GOP primary in June and is vying against Hochul, who won the Democratic primary.

Zeldin, from Shirley, lives on Long Island with his wife and twin daughters, won the congressional race to retain his seat by a wide margin, and ran for his fourth term with campaign platforms focused on his military service, support for law enforcement and veterans, a tough stance on immigration, fighting gang violence (including MS-13), growing jobs and the economy, and getting to the other side of the pandemic.

Zeldin's tenure has been marked by speculation about his reported loyalty to former President Donald Trump. Zeldin, however, has said he is proud of his ability to reach consensus on both sides of the political aisle.

After decrying the violence that rocked the U.S. Capitol in January, Zeldin voted to object to the certification of the Electoral College votes for then-President-elect Joe Biden.